Lithuania should see no drastic rise of food, drink prices in 2018 – analyst

Prices for alcohol and dairy products will grow insignificantly in Lithuania this year after being the main driver of the consumer price index in 2017, therefore, the inflation pace will slow down, says Nerijus Mačiulis, chief economist at Swedbank Lithuania.

"Last year, the inflation was mainly due to temporary factors. Alcoholic beverages saw the steepest increase last year, including a 30-percent rise in beer prices, a 10-percent rise in milk prices and restaurant and hotel services was the third category in terms of growth," Mačiulis told a news conference on Wednesday.

In his words, the price hike for services was mainly due to lack of employees and growing wages.

"This year, we do not project a jump of prices for alcohol, milk, grain and other food products. We think the growth should be under 3 percent," said the Swedbank economist.

Analysts of the bank project the 2017 inflation at 3.7 percent, with expected decline to 3.3 percent next year. The average wages should this year grow by 7 percent.